The Prince questions Benvolio about what happened. “Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?” Benvolio describes the two fights. “Tybalt here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay”.
The Prince pronounces judgement: Romeo is banished and the two families are fined. “And for that offence immediately we do exile him hence.”
In Act 3 Scene 1, Shakespeare creates a pretend fight scene between Tybalt and Mercutio. The atmosphere is calm at first then becomes a lot more violent. Then the fight becomes serious, because Tybalt accidentally stabs Mercutio. Nevertheless, Romeo takes it the wrong way. It’s here that Shakespeare builds up the frenzied tension by making Romeo search through the streets looking for Tybalt. When Romeo eventually finds Tybalt, Romeo is so consumed with frenzy and passion for the slaughter of his best friend, that they start to fight. Romeo is so outraged that he ends up killing Tybalt. The outcome of that situation is that Romeo is banished from his hometown.
When this happens, it makes you want to read on, to find out what happens to Romeo and Juliet. These questions start to go through your mind: What becomes of the lovers? Will they ever get to be with each other again? Do they part now, never to feel the brush of each others lips again?
The event in Act 3 Scene 5 directly affects the Capulet family. The characters in this scene are Juliet, Lady Capulet, Lord Capulet, and the Nurse.
It is almost light and Romeo is preparing to leave Juliet and travel to Mantua. Juliet tries to persuade him to stay, saying that it is still night “It is not yer near day” and Romeo says he will accept her judgement and risk death. “I must be gone and live, or stay and die.” Juliet realises; he was right before and tells him he must go. “It is, it is, hie hence, be gone, away”.
The Nurse warns them that Lady Capulet is coming and Romeo and Juliet say farewell. “Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.” Romeo leaves. “Farewell, Farewell. One kiss, and I’ll descend.”
Lady Capulet greets her daughter and asks her how she is. “Ho daughter””, Why how now Juliet?” She sympathises with Juliet’s grief at the death of Tybalt “So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend which you weep for.” Her hatred of the villain Romeo. “Villain and he be many miles asunder-.”
Juliet appears to agree with her mother’s attack on Romeo, but uses words that can also mean that she loves Romeo. “Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him-dead-is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed.” Lady Capulet then turns to the question of marriage and tells Juliet to prepare to be married to Paris in two days’ time. “Marry my child, early next Thursday morn, the gallant young and noble gentleman, The Count Paris, at St Peter’s Church.” Juliet is horrified and tells her mother that she will do no such thing. “I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo.”
Juliet’s father enters; unaware of what Juliet has said to her mother and comments on his daughter’s grief. “For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body.” His wife tells him that Juliet has refused to marry Paris. “She will none,” Lord Capulet amazed to hear this and questions her about it. “Take me with you”, when she repeats her refusal Lord Capulet loses his temper. “Not proud you have, but thankful that you have. Proud can I never be of what I hate, but thankful even for hate, that is meant love.”
Lord Capulet tells Juliet that either she will marry Paris on Thursday or he will disown her. “Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch!” “Or never after look me in the face.” “Speak not, reply not, do not answer me.” “Out on her, hilding!” the Nurse tries to defend Juliet, only to be shouted down by Lord Capulet, “Good prudence, smatter” who complains bitterly of Juliet’s ingratitude. “God’s bread”, “Stuffed as they say with honourable parts”, “A whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender”.
Still in a towering rage at Juliet’s rejection of all the loving attention she has received from her parents, ”I’ll ne'er acknowledge thee,” Lord Capulet storms off. Juliet speaks self-pityingly but receives no comfort from her mother “in that dim monument where” who also leaves her. She turns to the Nurse for comfort in her predicament. “Some comfort Nurse.”
The nurse advises Juliet to forget about her true love Romeo and to marry Count Paris as her parents wish. “Romeo’s a disclout to him; an eagle”, “As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart.” Juliet asks the Nurse if that is what she really means, “Speak’st thou from thy heart?” Moreover, the nurse says that it is; Juliet says that she accepts this advice; “And from my soul too.” The Nurse is to tell her mother that she is sorry that she has upset her father and is going to see Friar Lawrence to make her confession. “Well thou hast comforted me marvellous much.” As soon as the Nurse has gone, Juliet expresses her true feelings about the Nurse’s treachery. “Ancient damnation!” She will never confide in her again; “Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain”. Instead, she will go and ask Friar Lawrence’s advice. “I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy.”
My interpretation of Act 3 Scene 5, is that Shakespeare unwittingly has created a modern argument scene between Juliet and her parents, an argument which most teenage children go through, whereby minors are rebelling against their elders [parents]. The atmosphere is upsetting at first and then becomes angrier when Juliet's father arrives in the room. When Juliet's mother talks to Juliet, they are both upset, but when Juliet's father arrives and finds out Juliet will not be marrying Paris everyone becomes angry. When the Nurse tries to help, she is shouted at. No one will help Juliet so she decides to go and see Friar Lawrence, who should supposedly be able to help her. The scene ends with Juliet walking away to see Friar Lawrence in order to get some help. Shakespeare leaves you in a sea of anticipation, so that you are holding your breath, waiting tentatively to find out what is going to be happening in the next scene to particularly Juliet. In addition, the big question is ‘Is Juliet going to marry Paris? Or will she stay faithful to Romeo?’
